Waveguide switch and electrical control means thereof



Sept. 22, 1959 I 0.1.; HOLZSCHUH mm. 2,905,908

WAVEGUIDE SWITCH AND ELECTRICAL CONTROL MEANS THEREOF Filed Sept. 16,1954 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 F-IIW 1,

, 5 IN VEN TORS DONALD L.Hoa zscnun CHARLEJ A.Kunnn Enwnv N. PHILLIPSROYAL ,4. JTREETER ATTORNEy Sept. 22 1959 HQLZSCHUH EI'AL 2,905,908

WAVEGUIDE SWITCH AND ELECTRICAL CONTROL MEANS THEREOF Filed Sept. 16,1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR-S CHARLES A.KuRKA Eowuv N-PHILLIP6 DONALDL. floLzscrlun RoyAL A. STREETER v ATToRNEy Sept. 22, 1959 D. H OLZSCHUH ETAI- 2,

WAVEGUIDE SWITCH AND ELECTRICAL CONTROL MEANS THEREOF Filed Sept. 16.1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 II I: :l :1 '51 1: ll 50)" n J5 J6 l; 411::

n II II 1: 3 n II II II I J8 He- 5' IN VENTOR-S DONALD L.Ho:.zscuuuCHARLES A. KURKA EDWIN N. PHILLIPS Ro al. A-QSTREETER A-r'roRrvEy Spt.22,1959 L, HQLZSCHUH ETAL 2,905,908

WAVEGUIDE SWITCH AND ELECTRICAL CONTROL MEANS THEREOF Filed Sept. 16,1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 a 7 fia5-@ 3 IN VE N T ORS DONAL-D LQHOLZSCHUHCHARLES A. KURKA EDWIN N. PHILLIPS ROYAL A. STREETEB B ATTORNEu D. L.HOLZSCHUH ETA!- 2,905,903

Sept. 22, 1959 WAVEGUIDE SWITCH AND ELECTRICAL CONTROL MEANS THEREOF 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 16, 1954 KURKA Enwuv N. PHILLIP6 CHARLES AROYAL A-JTREETER T oRIvEy United States Patent WAVEGUIDE SWITCH ANDELECTRICAL CONTROL MEANS THEREOF Donald L. Holzschuh, Charles A. Kurka,Edwin N. Phillips, and Royal A. Streeter, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignorsto Collins Radio Company, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a corporation of IowaApplication September 16, 1954, Serial No. 456,544

7 Claims. (Cl. 333-4) This invention relates to a waveguide switch thatutilizes any type of waveguide whether symmetrical or unsymmetrical incross-section.

Waveguide switches transfer ultra-high frequency wave energy from asource to a selected utilization device. Sometimes, rotating elementsare used in waveguide switches to transfer microwave energy from anincoming line, connected to the source, to a particular outgoing line,connected to a selected utilization device. Switches with rotor elementsare commonly used with radiosymmetrical waveguide, such as coaxialwaveguide, because radiosymmetry allows an incoming line to be locatedaxially with respect to the rotor of a switch. Thus, the rotor may bedesigned with a curved waveguide passage, which engages the input lineat the rotor axis, and which bends until it terminates nonaxially toengage one of a plurality of outgoing lines.

Several alternatives exist for locating the outgoing end of the coaxialwaveguide passage in a conventional rotor. The outgoing end may belocated on the side of the rotor opposite the incoming end, or it may belocated on the outer periphery of the rotor, or it may be located on thesame side of the rotor as the incoming line. The outgoing coaxialwaveguides are spaced about the rotor to be engaged alternately by theoutgoing end of the coaxial waveguide passage as it is rotated. Hence, aconnection between the input line and a particular output line dependsupon the angular position of the rotor in such a radiosymmetricalsystem.

Monosymmetrical waveguide, such as ridge-waveguide, does not permit theuse of the above-described arrangement, since a rotor passage ofridge-waveguide cannot be aligned with an incoming ridge-waveguide byrotor rotation less than a complete revolution. Likewise, unsymmetricalwaveguide requires a complete revolution for alignment. Since a completerevolution brings the rotor back to its starting position, no switchingis accomplished in the conventional arrangement. In general, all typesof waveguide except radiosymmetrical waveguide requires a completerevolution of the rotor to obtain realignment. In this specification,the word triosymmetrical waveguide is defined as waveguide with across-section that is unsymmetrical, monosymmetrical, or bisymmetricalbut excludes radiosymmetrical waveguide.

Furthermore, in each of the above-described switches, small gaps existbetween the rotor and the incoming and outgoing lines to allow freerotation by the rotor. The gaps cause undesirable loss of energy byradiation and undesirable reflection of energy by presenting adiscontinuity in the line.

It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to provide a waveguideswitch with a rotor arrangement that will utilize waveguide of any crosssection.

It is another object of this invention to provide a switch forunsymmetrical and monosymmetrical waveguide that permits a largereduction in size over conventional switches for such waveguide.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a 2,905,908Patented Sept. 22, 1959 waveguide switch that avoids the gappedconnection be tween the rotor and the incoming and outgoing lines.Hence, radiation loss and transmission discontinuity are virtuallyeliminated.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide a novel mechanicalsystem which permits remote electrical control of the waveguide switchpresented by this invention.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a novel electricalcircuit which permits automatic remote control of the waveguide switch.

The chosen embodiment of the invention provides a novel waveguide switchwhich has a pair of rotor waveguide passages formed generally in anS-shape. The passages are supported parallel to each other in the rotorand have ridge-waveguide cross-sections; but the ridges of the parallelpassages are positioned opposite to each other. The rotor is mounted ina cylindrical stator member which has one end closed and one end open. Apressure plate is supported by the stator across its open end, but thepressure plate is axially slideable with respect to the stator. A shaftpasses fixedly through the rotor and is supported rotatably at one endby the closed end of the stator and at the other end by the pressureplate. The pressure plate is spring biased against an end of the rotorwhich can be rotated only when the pressure plate is released from it.

A single incoming waveguide connects to the pressure plate and engagesone end of the rotor; while a pair of outgoing waveguides connect to theclosed stator end and engage the opposite end of the rotor. Since therotor is held in compression between the pressure plate and the closedend of the stator, the incoming and outgoing lines engage the rotorunder pressure. Accordingly, a gap is prevented between a connectingrotor passage and the incoming and outgoing lines. Furthermore, thepressure plate locks the rotor in selected position.

A switching operation for the invention requires: first, disengagementof the pressure plate from the rotor; second, rotation of the rotor to anew position; and third, re-enegagement of the pressure plate with therotor.

A cam system is provided to release the pressure plate from the rotor sothat it may be repositioned. Rotation of the cams moves the pressureplate away from the stator and thus disengages the pressure plate fromthe rotor. The cams are connected by sprocket and chain drive means to afirst electric motor that controls the amount of rotation of the cams.The position of the pressure plate is sensed electrically by smallswitches supported by the pressure plate and actuated by the cams.

The rotor is rotated by a second electric motor. One angular position ofthe rotor connects the input line to one of the output lines; and asecond angular position of the rotor, which is degrees from the firstposition, connects the input line to the other output line. Therotational position of the rotor is sensed by a pair of small switches,supported in the stator on opposite sides, which are actuated by a camon the rotor.

The switches and motors are connected by a novel relay circuit tocontrol switches on a remote panel which provides push-button controlfor the waveguide switch.

Further objects, features, and advantages will be obvious to a personskilled in the art upon further study of the specification and drawings,in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the waveguide switch;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along line 22 in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 E Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the rotor;

Figure 5 is an end view of the rotor;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 in Figure 1 "Figure 7is-a detailed portion taken along line 77 in Figure 2;-

Figure 8 is a partial sectional view taken along line 88 in Figure 2;and

Figure 9 is a schematic wiring diagram of the control circuit of thisinvention.

Now referring to the chosen embodiment of the invention in more detail,Figure 1 shows a side-elevational view of a waveguide switch which has acylindrically shaped stator 10 that is fastened to asupporting structure11 which is shown schematically only. A pair of outgoing ridgewaveguides 12 and 13 are fastened to the closed end 14 of stator 10; anda weather cover 16 is received over and is fastened to the open end ofstator 10.

A J-shaped incoming line 17 of ridge waveguide has a portion 18 thatpasses through cover 16 and connects to the waveguide switch. Line 17has another portion 19 which is also fixed to supporting structure 11(shown schematically), and a coupling portion 22 connects por tions 18and 19.

As shown in Figure 3, a plurality of rods 23 are fixed at one end to theinside surface of stator 10 by brackets 24 and extend longitudinallyfrom the open end of stator 10". Rods 23 are equally spaced aroundstator 18 and extend slideably through a plurality of openings in acircular pressure plate 26. Pressure plate 26 extends across the openend of stator 10 and is supported transversely by rods 23 but is movableaxially on them.

A first washer 27, a spring 28, and a second Washer 29 are received overeach rod 23; and springs 28 are compressed by nuts 31 that arethreadedly received over the outer end of each rod 23. Thus, the springsexert a force on pressure plate 26 that tends to move it toward stator10. A rotor 32 is received within stator 10 and is supported between theclosed end 14 of stator 10 and pressure plate 26. A rotor shaft 39 ismounted axially through rotor 32 and is fixed to rotor 32 by means ofkeys 41 and 42.

The ends 53 and 54 of rotor shaft 39 are necked-down. End 54 isrotatably received within a bearing 55 supported centrally in the closedend 14 of stator 10. The other end 53 is rotatably received within abearing 56 supported centrally in pressure plate 26.

The force of springs 28 on pressure plate 26 normally holds rotor 32under pressure between stator end 14 and pressure plate 26. Hence, rotor32 is locked in position by pressure plate 26 and cannot be rotatedunless pressure plate 26 is pulled away from stator 10. Figure 3 showspressure plate 26 moved away from stator 10 and rotor 32.

Rotor 32, which in Figures 4 and S is shown removed from stator 10, hasa front plate 33 and a back plate 34 which are supported parallel toeach other by a pair of trapezoidal supporting plates 36 and 37. Asingle rotor cam 38 (see Figure 5) is fastened to the outer edge offront plate 33.

Both front plate 33 and back plate 34 are formed with openings that haveridge-waveguide configurations.

'Figure 5 shows openings 43 and 44 formed in front plate 33; and Figure6 shows, in dotted lines, openings 46 and 47 formed in back plate 34. Apair of generally S-shaped passages and of ridge-Waveguide connectbetween plates 33 and 34. The ends of passage 30 fasten about openings43 and 46, respectively, and the ends of the other S-shaped passage 35fasten about the other openings 44 and 47. Passages 30 and 35 arepositioned substantially parallel to each other. However, the waveguidepassages, being ridge-waveguide, are formed with ridges 51 and 52,respectively, that are positioned opposite each other, as is seen inFigure 5.

taining speed reduction gears (not shown), are fixed to pressure plate26 by means of brackets 58 and are spaced equally about pressure plate26 near its edge. A cam 59 is rotatably supported by a shaft extendingfrom the outer side of each transmissionbox 57. Each cam 59 slideablyengages the transverse surface 60 of a cam plate 61 which is fixed tothe inside of the cylindrical wall of a stator 10, as shown in Figures3, 7, and 8. Plates 61 extend through notches 62 formed in the peripheryof pressure plate 26. A sprocket 63 is fixed to a shaft, which extendsfrom the top of each transmission. box 57, and is rotatably connected tothe adjacent cam 59 by the speed reduction gears supported within box57.

In Figure- 2, a first motor 64 is fastened to pressure plate 26 by meansofa bracket 66. A transmission box 67, containing speed reduction gears(not shown), is supported at one end of motor 64 and drives a sprocket68 that is fixedto a shaft 69 extending from the top of box 67. A drivechain 71 is received about each sprocket 63, about motor sprocket 68,about an adjustable sprocket 72 which is rotatably supported from a base73 attached adjustably to pressure plate 26. Hence, cams 59 are rotatedby motor 64 and engage plates 61 to push pressure plate 26 away fromstator 10.

A pair of brackets 74 and 76 are attached to any two transmission boxes57, respectively. A first switch 77 is fastened to bracket 74 and hascontacts arranged in double-pole double-throw fashion. A second switch78 is fastened to the other bracket 76 and has contacts arranged insingle-pole single-throw fashion. The switches have lever arms 79 and 80that are tipped with rollers 75 and 81. which engage the upper slides ofthe adjacent cams 59 to sense the position of the pressure plate camsand hence the position of the pressure plate.

A second motor 82 is also fastened to pressure plate 26 by means of abracket 83. Furthermore, another transmission box 84 is fastened to oneend of motor 82 to drive a pulley 86 fixed to a shaft extending fromtransmission box 84. A larger pulley 87 is fastened to the end of rotorshaft 39, and a belt 88 is receivedabout pulleys 86 and 87. Accordingly,when pressure plate 26 is disengaged from rotor 32, it can be rotated bymotor 82.

As shown in: Figure 2,. a third switch 89 is fastened to the inside wallof stator 10 adjacent front plate 33 of rotor 32. A lever 91, which isalso tipped with a roller 92', extends from switch 89 and engages a camprojection 38 that is fixed to the periphery of front plate 33. Thecontacts of third switch 89 are arranged in doublepole double-throwfashion. Furthermore, a fourth switch 93 also is fastened to the insidewall of stator 10 adjacent front plate 33 of rotor 32 but is situateddiametrically opposite from third switch 89. Another lever 94 tippedwith a roller 96 likewise extends from switch 93 and engages camprojection 38 when rotor 32 is rotated 180 degrees from where it engagesthird switch 89. The contacts of fourth switch 93 are arranged in asplit double-throw double-pole fashion. Hence, third and fourth switches89 and 93 sense the position of rotor 32.

Motors 64 and 82 may be split phase motors. In this embodiment (as shownin Figure 9), each motor has one field winding permanently connectedacross the power source; and the motors are actuated by selectivelyswitching their other field winding across the power source. Thecapacitors and are connected in series with field coils 97 and 98respectively, which are connected directly across the line, to providethe ninety degree phase shift required in split phase motors.

The operation of the motors is controlled automatically from a remotecontrol panel 99 by means of a toggle switch 101 and a push-buttonswitch 102.

A plurality of relays are utilized in the invention to obtain automaticremote control. As shown in Figure 9, they are a first relay 103 whichhas fixed contacts 104 and 106, a second relay 107 which has a singlefixed contact 108, a third relay 109 which has three fixed contacts 111,112, and 113, and a fourth relay 114 which has a pair of fixed contacts116 and 117. All of the relay contacts with the exception of contact 117of fourth relay 114 are open when the relays are not energized. Contact117 is closed when relay 114 is not energized.

A power source 118 provides the energy for motors 64 and 82 and may be a60 cycle 117 volt source. A first main power bus 119 connects to oneside of power source 118 and has connected to it branch buses 119a,119b, 1190, and 119d. A second main power bus 121 connects on the otherside of power source 118 and has connected to it branch buses 121a,121b, 121e, 121d, and 121e. Field coils 97 and 98 of motors 64 and 82with their serially connected capacitors 90 and 95, respectively, areconnected between buses 119a and 121s.

Toggle switch 101 and push-button switch 102 are each connected on oneside to bus 119. A lead 122 connects the other side of push-buttonswitch 102 to a first arm 123 of first relay 103; and a short lead 124connects arm 123 to one side of relay 103.

First contact 104 of first relay 103 is connected to branch bus 119a,and second contact 106 of first relay 103 is connected by a short lead126 to contact 108 of second relay 107. Arm 127 of first relay 103 andarm 128 of second relay 107 are connected by branch bus 121e. Contact108 of second relay 107 is also connected to one side of motor coil 129by a lead 131. The other side of coil 129 is connected to bus 119a.

Another lead 132 connects the other side of first relay 103 to theforward contact 133 of first switch 77. The backward contact 134 offirst switch 77 is connected by lead 136 to one side of third relay 109,the third contact 113 of third relay 109 and the first contact 116 offourth, relay 114. The arm 79 of first switch 77 connects to bus 121d. Alead 138 connects the arm 188 of second switch 78 to one side of secondrelay 107, and bus 119a connects to contact 141 of second switch 78.

The other side of third relay 109 is connected by a short lead 142 toits first arm 143, and another lead 144 connects arm 143 to the secondarm 180 of third switch 89. The second forward contact 147 of thirdswitch 89 is connected by lead 148 to first contact 111 of third relay109, and the second backward contact 149 of third switch 89 is connectedby lead 151 to second contact 112 of third relay 109.

The first forward contact 152 of third switch 89 is connected by lead153 to one side of an indicating light 154 which indicates one positionof the switch when lighted, while the first backward contact 156 of thethird switch 89 is connected by lead 157 to one side of a secondindicating light 158 which indicates the other position of the switchwhen lighted.

The other side of indicating light 154 is connected by a lead 159 to asecond forward contact 161 of fourth switch 93, while the other side ofthe light 158 is connected by a lead 162 to the second backward contact163 of fourth switch 93. The trird arm 164 of fourth switch 93 connectsto bus 11%. The second arm 166 of fourth switch 93 is connected by alead 167 to second arm 168 of third relay 109, and the first moving arm94 of fourth switch 93 is connected by a lead 171 to one side 172 oftoggle switch 101 at the control panel 99. The other side 173 of toggleswitch 101 is connected by a lead 174 to second arm 168 of third relay109. A lead 176 connects the first backward contact 177 of fourth switch93 to the second contact 112 of third relay 109.

Fourth relay 114 is connected on one side to arm 178 of third relay 109;and the other side of fourth relay 114 is connected to bus 119c. Thefirst arm 179 of fourth relay 114 is connected by lead 186 to one sideof motor coil 181 which is connected on its other side to bus 119a.

The second arm 1850f fourthrelay 114 is connected by lead 189 to theremaining side of second relay 107. v

In the rotor position shown in Figure 3, rotor passage 30 connects inputwaveguide 17 to first output line 12. Accordingly, the incoming end 43of passage 30 is aligned with incoming waveguide 17, and outgoing end 46of passage 30 is aligned with first outgoing waveguide 12. The relativepositions of the outgoing waveguides and the adjacent ends of the rotorpassages may be seen in Figure 6 which shows passage 30, represented bydotted lines, aligned with first outgoing waveguide 12, designated bysolid lines. It is seen that the other passage 35, also represented bydotted lines, is not aligned with the other outgoing waveguide 13,represented by solid lines. The dotted and solid lines for outgoing waveguide 12 and passage 30 actually coincide but are otfset for clarity. Itis noted that the positions of second outgoing waveguide 13 and secondrotor passage 35 are distant from each other and that their ridges 52and 50 are oppositely situated.

The Waveguide 17 is the only waveguide passing through pressure plate 26and in Figure 3 is aligned with waveguide passage 30. It is noted thatthe other waveguide passage 35 is engaged by the fiat surface ofpressure plate 26.

When the rotor 32 is rotated degrees from the position shown in Figures3 and 6, the other waveguide passage 35 will connect incoming line 17 tosecond outgoing waveguide 13; and incoming end 43 of passage 30 thenwill be engaged by the flat surface of pressure plate 26. It is noted inFigure 5 that openings 43 and 44 are symmetrical with respect to rotorshaft 39 and that 180 degrees of rotation by rotor 32 will change thealignment of input waveguide 17 from first passage 12 to second passage13. It is further noted in Figure 6 that 180 degrees of rotation byrotor 32 Will change the alignment from passage 30 with outgoingwaveguide 12 to passage 35 with outgoing waveguide 13.

In order to rotate rotor 32, it is necessary to remove the frictionalforce of pressure plate 26, since pressure plate 26 is at all timesforced axially toward rotor 32 by springs 28. Pressure plate 26 islifted from rotor 32 by means of the cam arrangement which is powered bymotor 64 through chain 71 and transmission boxes 57. Cams 59 are rotatedsimultaneously by the transmission boxes and slideably engage cam plates61 to push pressure plate 26 away from stator 14. Accordingly, pressureplate 26 moves away from rotor 32, since it is held between pressureplate 26 and stator end 14. After 180 degrees of rotation, the camsengage at their highest points to support pressure plate 26 farthestfrom stator 14. Pressure plate 26 has now moved away from rotor 32 andno longer exerts any force on it. At this time, pressure plate motor 64is de-energized.

Then, second motor 82 is energized to rotate the rotor 180 degrees to anew position where it is de-energized after its cam 38 engages the otherswitch roller 96.

It is now necessary to release the pressure plate so that no gap mayexist between the ends of the rotor passages and the incoming andoutgoing waveguides. Pressure plate motor 64 is again energized, andcams 59 are rotated another 180 degrees until their lowest points engagecam plates 61 where the pressure plate 26 is positioned closest tostator 14. Motor 64 is then shut off. Pressure plate 26 movement,however, will stop when the pressure plate solidly engages rotor 32;and, thus, no gap can exist in the transmission line connection providedby the waveguide switch. The switch is firmly locked in position by thepressure plate 26 and vibration cannot atfect the rotor position.

The sequence of mechanical operation required to switch ultra-highfrequency energy from first outgoing waveguide 12 to second outgoingwaveguide 13 is now complete. The same sequence of mechanical operationis used to switch the energy back to first outgoing line 12. Thepressure plate is again disengaged, the rotor rotated 180 degrees, andthe pressure plate re-engaged.

The above-described mechanical sequence is automatically obtained inthis invention and is completely controlled by toggle switch 101 andpush-button switch 102 which are supported on control panel 99. Acomplete switching operation is obtained by moving toggle switch 101 toits other position and momentarily closing pushbutton switch 102.Indicating light 158 is lighted when first outgoing waveguide 12 isconnected; and the other indicating light 154 is lighted when the secondoutgoing waveguide 13 is connected.

The electrical circuit operates as follows: Suppose that the switch isin the position shown in Figure 3 and that it is required to repositionit to connect second outgoing line 13. The arm of toggle switch 101 ispushed to the position shown in Figure 9, and push-button 102 ismomentarily closed. A circuit is then completed from bus 119 throughpush-button switch 102, leads 122 and 124, first relay 103, lead 132,front contact 133 and arm 79 of first switch 77 to the other bus 121dwhich connects to the other side of power source 118. It is noted thatarm 79 of first switch 77 engages front contact 133 when pressure plate26 is closed.

After relay 103 is energized, its first arm 123 engages its firstcontact 104 which bypasses push-button switch 102 to bus 1190!.Therefore, first relay 103 remains energized when push-button 102 isreleased.

The second arm 127 of first relay 103 also is actuated, and it engagessecond contact 106 to complete a circuit through motor coil 129 by wayof bus 121d, arm 127, contact 106, leads 126 and 131, coil 129 andopposite bus 119a. Since the other coil 97 is permanently energized,motor 64 is actuated to drive cams 59 through an angular sector of 180degrees where lever 79 of first switch 77 opens front contact 133 andcloses back con tact 134.

Upon the opening of front contact 133, the circuit of first relay 103 isbroken, and its second arm 127 opens to interrupt the field circuit ofmotor 64. Hence, motor 64 stops when earns 59 have rotated 180 degreesto release pressure plate 26 from rotor 32.

Up to this time, rotor 32 has remained stationary in the position shownin Figure 2; where rotor cam 38 engages roller 92 of third switch 89 tomaintain its contacts in the position shown in Figure 9. On the otherhand, roller 96 of fourth switch 93 is not engaged by rotor cam 38, andthe contacts of fourth switch 93 are also in the position shown inFigure 9.

When back contact 134 of first switch 77 is closed by the opening ofpressure plate 26, third relay 109 is energized by a circuit from bus121d through back contact 134, lead 136, third relay 109, leads 142 and144, second arm 180 and second front contact 147 of third switch 89,lead 182, first front contact 183 and first at 184 of fourth switch 93,lead 171 and side 172 of toggle switch 101 to the other bus 119.

By energizing third relay 109, its third arm 178 engages third contact113; and fourth relay 114 is energized by a circuit from bus 119sthrough relay 114, third arm 178 and third contact 113 of third relay109, lead 136, back contact 134 and arm 79 of first switch 77 toopposite bus 1210!. Hence, fourth relay 114 is slaved to third relay 109and actuates rotor motor 82 by a circuit from bus 121d through arm 79and back contact 134 of first switch 77, lead 136, a first contact 116and arm 179 of fourth relay 114, lead 186 to motor coil 181 and theother I bus 11912.

:ergized by a circuit from bus 121d, arm 79 and back contact 134 offirst switch 77, lead 136 through third relay 109, lead 142, arm 143 andcontact 111 of third relay 109, leads 148 and 182, first forward contact183 and first arm 184 of fourth switch 93, lead 171, and toggle switch101 to the other bus 119. Accordingly, third relay 109 continues to holdfourth relay 114; and motor 82 continues rotating rotor 32.

Motor 82 rotates the rotor degrees where rotor cam 38 engages fourthswitch roller 96; and the circuit of third relay 109 is interrupted bythe disengagement of arm 184 and contact 183. Consequently, fourth relay114 is interrupted by disengagement of contact 113 and arm 178 of thirdrelay 109 to stop the rotor motor 82. Roller 96 of fourth switch 93 nowis engaged by rotor cam 38 and its arms 184, 166, and 164 are reversedin position.

When fourth relay 114 is dropped, its normally closed arm engages itssecond contact 117 to energize second relay 107. It is remembered thatpressure plate 26 is still released; therefore, roller 81 of secondswitch 78 is supported by pressure plate cam 59 to engage arm 188 withcontact 141 so that second relay 107 is energized by a circuit from bus119:: through second switch 78, lead 138, second relay 107, lead 189,second arm 185 and contact 117 of fourth relay 114, to opposite bus121a. Hence, second relay 107 actuates motor 64 by a circuit from bus121e through arm 128 and contact 108 of second relay 107, lead 131,motor coil 129 to opposite bus 119a. The pressure plate cams 59 rotatethrough another sector of 180 degrees, and pressure plate 26 is releasedto engage rotor 32. This rotation by earns 59 actuates roller 81 to opensecond switch 78; and motor 64 stops.

Note at this point that all relays are now dropped and that all elementsof the waveguide switch occupy their original positions except thatrotor 32 has moved 180 degrees to connect incoming line 17 to the otheroutgoing line 13 by means of the other waveguide passage 35.

Furthermore, the switching was indicated on remote panel 99 by lightbulbs 154 and 158. Initially, when rotor passage 30 connected incomingline 17 to first outgoing line 12, first bulb 154 was lighted by acircuit from bus 11% through third arm 164 and second front contact 161of fourth switch 93, lead 159, bulb 154, lead 153, first front contact152 and first arm 187 of third switch 89 to opposite bus 121. On theother hand, second bulb 158 was not lighted because it then did not havea completed circuit.

However, after the switching had occurred, second bulb 158 was lightedand first bulb 154 was shut off. This occurred because rotor cam 38actuated fourth switch 93 instead of third switch 89. Third arm 154 offourth switch 93 disengaged second front contact 161 to break thecircuit through first bulb 154; and third lever 164 engaged second backcontact 163 to complete a circuit from bus 1191) to lead 162, secondbulb 158, lead 157, first back contact 156 and first arm 187 of thirdswitch 89 to opposite bus 121.

The rotor position cannot be disturbed if push-button switch 102 isdepressed without changing the position of toggle switch 101. Ifpush-button switch 102 were so depressed, a circuit would be completedthrough first relay 103 which would lift pressure plate 26 as describedabove. However, third relay 109 would not be energized because it has anopen circuit at side 173 of toggle switch 101. Accordingly, rotor motor82 remains unactuated since it can only respond when third relay 109 isenergized.

Furthermore, after pressure plate 26 is lifted, second switch 78 closesand completes a circuit through second relay 107 which again actuatesrotor motor 82 until pressure plate 26 is again closed to open secondswitch 78 and shut off rotor motor 82. Hence, the rotor position is notchanged by pressing push-button without actuating toggle switch 101.

Suppose, however, that toggle switch 101 is pushed to 9 its other side173 and that push-button switch 102 is then depressed. First relay 103is therefore energized to actuate pressure plate motor 64, which rotatescams 59 by 180 degrees to lift pressure plate 26 in the manner describedabove. However, third relay 109 is now energized by a circuit from bus121d through arm 79 and back contact 134 of first switch 77, lead 136,third relay 109, leads 142 and 144, second arm 180 and second backcontact 149 of third switch 89, leads 151 and 176, first back contact177 and second arm 166 of fourth switch 93, leads 167 and 174, to side173 of toggle switch 101 to opposite bus 119. Accordingly, fourth relay114 is energized by the engagement of third arm 178 and contact 113 ofthird relay 109 in the manner described above; and rotor motor 82 isactuated. As rotor 32 begins rotation, cam 38 releases roller 96 andsecond arm 166 of fourth switch 93 disengages first back contact 177.Nevertheless, third relay 109 remains energized through its second arm168 and contact 112, which bypass fourth switch 93 by a circuit from bus121d, arm 79 and back contact 134 of first switch 77, lead 136, relay109, leads 142 and 144, arm 180 and back contact 149 of third switch 89,lead 151, second contact 112 and second arm 168 of third relay 109, lead174, side 173 of toggle switch 101 to opposite bus 119.

Rotor 32 moves 180 degrees where it is back to the position shown inFigure 9. There, rotor cam 38 engages roller 92 and actuates thirdswitch 89 back to the position shown in Figure 9. The circuit throughthird relay 109 is therefore broken, since second arm 180 of thirdswitch 89 no longer engages second back contact 149; and rotor motor 82stops.

When third relay 109 is de-energized, fourth relay 114 isdropped, asdescribed above, and second relay 107 is energized to actuate pressureplate motor 64. Hence, pressure plate 26 is released to engage rotor 32;and second switch 78 is opened to break the circuit of second re lay 107and stop the motor. First bulb 154 is again lighted instead of secondbulb 158.

It is often desirable to have a second control panel located at theswitch itself. In such case, a second push button switch, toggle switchand indicating lights would be connected in parallel with theircounterpart described above. However, a third switch is necessary toalternatively engage only one control panel at a time to the circuit.

Although the chosen embodiment provides a switch for ridge Waveguide, itis realized that the switch may utilize any type of symmetrical orunsymmetrical waveguide as well. The stator, pressure plate, and rotorarrangement of the invention may be used for any waveguide switch whichhas incoming and outgoing waveguides connected at the rotor ends; and itis only necessary to change the cross-section of the connectingwaveguide and rotor passages. The automatic circuit of the invention isequally adaptable for these variations of the switch.

It is hence apparent that the invention provides a remotely controlledwave guide switch that avoids a gapped connection between the rotorwaveguide passages and the incoming and outgoing lines. Consequently,radiation loss and transmission discontinuity are eliminated at theswitch junctions. A novel arrangement is provided for the waveguidepassages in the rotor which are particularly well suited forbisymmetrical waveguide, such as ridge waveguide. Furthermore, the novelarrangement of passages in this invention provides switches with muchsmaller overall size than conventional switches for large ridgewaveguide. Also, the invention provides a novel electrical circuit whichpermits the switch to be automatically positioned from a remotelocation.

The present invention not only includes the situation where the rotorsides 44 and 47, adjacent stator and 14 and pressure plate 26 are inplanes transverse to the axis of rotor rotation; but the invention alsoincludes as an equivalent the case where these elements are conically 10shaped where the axis of the cones is the axis of rotor rotation. Thelatter situation permits the incoming and outgoing waveguides to enterat an angle oblique to axis of rotation.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described, variouschanges and modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the artwhich do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A rotor for a ridge-waveguide switch having opposite sides transverseto an axis of rotation of the rotor, at first ridge-waveguide passagewith opposite ends received by the opposite sides of said rotor, asecond ridge-waveguide passage with opposite ends received by theopposite sides of said rotor, said passages each having substantiallyidentical cross-sections, said passages situated in said rotor withtheir cross-sections both oriented in like directions with respect tothe rotor axis, the adjacent ends of said passages at one side of saidrotor located at equal distances from the rotor axis, the adjacent endsof said passages in the other side of said rotor located at differentdistances from the rotor axis, a first stator waveguide 'terminating inalignment with one of said symmetrically located ends, and at leastsecond and third stator waveguides terminated at the opposite side ofsaid rotor being separately alignable with the waveguide passages atdifferent rotational positions of said rotor.

2. A rotor for a waveguide switch having opposite sides that aretransverse to an axis of rotation, a first waveguide passage with itsopposite ends received at the opposite sides of said rotor, a secondwaveguide passage with its opposite ends received at the opposite sidesof said rotor, said passages having substantially identicalcrosssections, each cross-section being no more symmetrical thanmonosymmetrical, said passages situated in said rotor with theircross-sections opposite to each other, the adjacent ends of saidpassages at one side of said rotor located equidistant from said rotoraxis, the adjacent ends of said passages at the other side of said rotorlocated at unequal radial distances from the rotor axis, a first statorwaveguide terminating in alignment with one of said symmetricallylocated ends, and at least second and third stator waveguides terminatedat the opposite side of said rotor being separately alignable with thewaveguide passages at different rotational positions of said rotor.

3. A rotor for a waveguide switch having parallel surfaces on oppositesides that are transverse to an axis of rotation, a first waveguidepassage having not more than monosymmetry of cross-section, withopposite ends received in openings in the opposite parallel surfaces ofsaid rotor, a second waveguide passage having not more than monosymmetryof cross-section, with opposite ends received in openings in theopposite parallel surfaces of said rotor, said passages havingsubstantially identical cross-sections, said passages situated in saidrotor with their cross-sections similarly facing the rotor axis, theadjacent ends of said passages in one surface of said rotor located atequal distances from the axis along a line through the rotor axis, theadjacent ends of said passages in the other surface of said rotorlocated on a line through the rotor axis but at unequal distances fromthe axis of said rotor, a first stator waveguide terminating inalignment with one of said symmetrically located ends, and at leastsecond and third stator waveguides terminated at the opposite side ofsaid rotor being separately alignable with the waveguide passages atdifferent rotational positions of said rotor.

4. A rotor for a waveguide switch having parallel surfaces on oppositesides that are transverse to an axis of rotation, a first monosymmetricS-shaped waveguide passage with its opposite ends received in openingsin the opposite parallel surfaces of said rotor, a second monosymmetricS-shaped waveguide passage with its opposite ends received in openingsin the opposite parallel surfaces of said rotor, said passages havingsubstantially identical cross-sections, said passages situated in saidrotor with their cross-sections opposite to each other, the adjacentends of said passages in one surface of said rotor located equidistantfrom and on a line through the rotor axis, the adjacent ends of saidpassages in the other surface of said rotor located at unequal radialdistances from the rotor. axis, a first stator waveguide terminating inalignment with one of said symmetrically located ends, and at leastsecond and third stator waveguides terminated at the opposite side ofsaid rotor being separately alignable with the Waveguide passages atdifferent rotational positions of said rotor.

5. A rotor for a waveguide switch having parallel sur faces on oppositesides that are transverse to its axis of rotation, a firstridge-Waveguide passage with opposite ends received in openings in theopposite parallel surfaces of Said rotor, a second ridge-waveguidepassage with its opposite ends received in openings in the oppositeparallel surfaces of said rotor, said passages having substantiallyidentical cross-sections, adjacent ends of said passages received in onesurface of said rotor facing the rotor axis and located equallytherefrom, opposite adjacent ends or said passages received in theopposite surface of said rotor located at unequal distances from therotor axis, a first stator Waveguide terminating in alignment with oneof said symmetrically located ends, and at least second and third statorwaveguides terminated at the opposite .side of said rotor beingseparately alignable with the Waveguide passages at different rotationalpositions of said rotor.

6. A waveguide switch as defined in claim comprising, a pressure platesupported by said stator and movable relative to the rotor, the rotorreceived rotatably be tween the pressure plate and stator, said firststator wave guide connected to the pressure plate and engageablewith oneside of the rotor, at least said second and third waveguides connectedto the stator and engageable with the other side of the rotor, and meansfor biasing together the pressure plate and stator against the rotorsides. 7 I

7. A waveguide switch as defined in claim 5, comprising, a hollow statormember formed with an open end and a closed end, said rotor receivedrotatably within said stator, said at least second and third statorwaveguides received through the closed end of said stator adjacent oneside of rotor, a pressure plate supported by said stator as its openend, said pressure plate biased against the adjacent side of said rotor,and said first stator Waveguide received through said pressure plate and.engageable with the adjacent end of said rotor having the equallylocated ends of said passages, and means for releasing the bias of saidpressure plate and rotating said rotor to various positions ofalignment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,344,780 Kram Mar. 21, 1 944 2,400,765 McMillan May 21, 1946 2,413,298De Tar Dec. 31, 1946 2,423,130 Tyrrell July 1, 1947 2,472,783 BarrerreJune 14, 1949 2,484,822 Gould Oct. 18, 1949 2,556,869 Charles June 12,1951 2,573,313 Kannenberg Nov. 6, 1951 2,597,607 Alford May 20, 19522,697,767 Charles Dec. 21,. 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 730,219 Great BritainMay 18, 1955 run-onus pr-

